The Quick Read
- Shakti Samman 2026 honoured 36 women achievers from across Odisha.
- The awards recognised work in healthcare, education, entrepreneurship, sustainability, sports, media, small industries and social development.
- Thirteen memoranda of understanding worth ₹913 crore were signed at the event.
- The investment commitments are expected to generate around 4,000 employment opportunities in Odisha.
- The event was organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry’s Indian Women Network in Bhubaneswar.
36 women from across Odisha were honoured at Shakti Samman 2026, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry’s Indian Women Network in Bhubaneswar on 31 July.
The 4th edition of the annual event recognised women for their leadership, innovation and contributions across various industries. That includes healthcare, environment and sustainability, start-ups, education, media and entertainment, sports, cottage and small industries, entrepreneurship and social development.
The programme also moved beyond recognition to investment. Women entrepreneurs and businesses signed 13 memoranda of understanding worth ₹913 crore. The proposed projects will create approximately 4,000 jobs in Odisha.
Women’s entrepreneurship linked with Odisha’s growth plans
Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg said women’s participation in entrepreneurship, employment and wider economic activity was an economic necessity, particularly as women account for nearly half of the state’s population.
She connected women-centric development with Odisha’s Vision 2036 and 2047 plans and the state’s ambition to build a $1-trillion economy. She also said beneficiaries of the Subhadra Yojana were using financial support for children’s education, entrepreneurship and other income-generating activities.
Hemant Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary for Home, Industries and Information and Public Relations, highlighted opportunities for women entrepreneurs in areas including food processing, plastics, FMCG and home appliances. He added that District Investment Promotion Agencies had been established across Odisha’s districts and had processed more than 3,000 applications.
Shakti Samman 2026: Recognition across sectors
CII selected the 36 awardees from different parts of Odisha. They represent a wide range of professions and forms of leadership.
The awards recognised not only conventional business success but also work creating social impact, advancing sustainability, strengthening local industries and building new opportunities within communities.
CII describes the Indian Women Network as part of its wider work to strengthen women’s participation in economic activity, workplaces and community development.
The recognition adds to a wider conversation about ensuring that women receive both visibility and economic opportunity. Change in Content recently examined the persistent gap in women’s industry leadership, where entry into work has not always translated into decision-making authority.
It also connects with India’s broader effort to increase women’s economic participation. Our earlier analysis of women’s employment growth in India looked at the progress as well as the need for more formal, secure and productive opportunities.
The Change Ahead
Shakti Samman 2026 celebrated women already creating impact across Odisha.
The ₹913-crore investment commitments give the event a larger economic dimension. Their significance will ultimately depend on how many projects move into implementation. At the same time, it will depend on the quality of the 4,000 jobs created. It will also depend on the extent to which women participate in the resulting enterprises and leadership opportunities.
For now, the event places women’s achievement and women-led investment within the same frame.
Editorial Note and Sources
This Bureau report is based on contemporary coverage of Shakti Samman 2026 and the Confederation of Indian Industry’s official event listing. The names of all 36 recipients and project-level details of the 13 MoUs were not available in the publicly accessible material reviewed for this report.
Source
- Confederation of Indian Industry: Official listing of the fourth CII IWN Shakti Samman 2026 in Bhubaneswar.
